He is Risen!

The kids made t-shirts: a Resurrected Jesus!

We ventured out to the Sunrise Easter Service for the first time this year! The worship was great as usual, and extra special because the guest worship leader, Phil Wickham, is someone each of us is a fan of. We were blessed to worship our King as a family. We thank God for the day off together!

After service, we enjoyed Danish pancakes :-) a heat and serve Trader Joe's item that adds simplicity!

Both the boys were so appreciative to receive their Easter baskets, which makes it even more fun for the giver. Our family tradition is that our Easter basket brings it all back to Jesus. Pete gave us an amount we could spend, and the boys' helped pick things out. It was a good lesson for us on wisdom on spending. The boys had an easier time putting things back on the shelves than I did :-)

Aidon picked a bible keychain and magnifying glass, and said, "If I'm ever lost, I can go to my Bible!". Josh loved the light-ring, and he danced around with them on his fingers. I was reminded by one of the boys, "Remember to put scriptures in the eggs, Mom." This was music to my ears: we started putting scripture in and on the plastic eggs when Aidon was 1 years old. We pray that they both continue to seek God's Word.

This version of star wars, ended up being so appropriate. It was about the Moses & Pharaoh, and included an explanation of the Passover Lamb.

These balls "light up": Jesus is the Light of the world and the bright Morning Star

Another favorite tradition is waking up to an easter egg hunt!

They both seem just as excited to wake up on Easter morning as they are on Christmas morning. We love that!

Opening up the "God is Light" rings

Opening up the miniature bible

Candy!

A boomerang yo-yo: it always comes back! Jesus never let's go. He's always with you.

We traditionally have an outdoor easter egg hunt too, which is fun because there are many eggs and lots of hiding spots

Egg-citing Easter Party!

This Easter Celebration touches my heart because it brings the Easter Message home.

Here the kids' are eagerly awaiting the Easter Egg Hunt

Excited at the "catch" so far!

Feels good to have found so many eggs!

eggs everywhere!

More pictures of the pickings

The kids found the eggs were empty - which reminds of the empty tomb!

Jesus is Risen! He is Alive, Just as He said!

The story book was an easter egg devotion and the stuff inside the eggs reminds us of  the events from Palm Sunday to the Resurrection.

For God so loved the World that He gave his only son, that whoever so believed in Him would not perish, but have eternal life.

The craft was a resurrection t-shirt, which the boys chose to wear on Easter Sunday! see the next post :-)

Our Friday was good

Fossils above show the directional movement of flood waters

  We are feeling so blessed that the four of us could be together today! We do not take lightly what our sins cost Jesus.We spent the afternoon touring the Creation Museum.

We learned about Day 5 and 6 of Creation in the Garden room.

Fully engaged minds

 Petting a ball python snake gave hands on appreciation for God's creatures.

Pastor Ray Bentley: "Today is Good Friday, and why do we call it good? Because on the third day Jesus Rose from the dead!"

Good Friday 2011

Josh said, "I am waiting to go the park with dad!" We had talked about the four of us going to the park together after Maundy Thursday dinner. So, Josh says, "Yeah, like Jesus went to the Garden (of Gethsemane)."

 
So early this morning, we went to the park, so we could reenact what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus went there with his closest friends. Here, Josh wanted 3 of us to 'fall asleep' while Jesus prayed:

A couple of us wanted to pray like Jesus did: "God, we commit our lives to Your plan, not our plan, for our lives."

Jesus said YES to the Father. We can say yes too.

Back at home, we made 'hot cross buns'.

The buns are iced with a cross shape.

We then headed over to Good Friday Service to join more brothers and sisters in Christ to worship Jesus together!

2011 Holy Thursday

 

The boys made a tissue paper ''stained glass" crosses

  to remind us of what Jesus did on the cross for us,

 

 that He died and Rose Again, so we could spend eternity in heaven with him!

 Our dinner menu reminded us of Jesus' last supper.The conversation was lively and excited as we shared what reminded us of Jesus. The stripes and piercings of  the matzo cracker reminded us of where the nails went through and the marks of the leather whip. The bitter herbs reminded someone of the tears shed by the Israelites when under Pharoah. The lamb of the passover lamb, protection from God, and Jesus' taking the our place for the consequence of our sins.

Pete led us in the Washing of Feet, like when Jesus served his closest friends, by washing their feet.

  Josh especially like the foot washing; asking for more washing and more time :-)

 Not only were our feet bathed, Pete bathed us in prayer too.

 The boys washed Tita Marn's feet as I prayed over her.

 We were blessed during our time together during this sweet tradition. Marnie closed out the evening with the boys, while Pete and I enjoyed watching Soul Surfer at the theatres!

Butterfies!

  One of my favorite times of year at the Wild Animal Park is Spring, when we can visit the Butterfly Garden!



This butterfly landed on Pete almost as soon as we walked into the Butterfly Jungle!



Aidon is excited, yet as "still" as can be, in hopes the butterfly will stay as long as possible



A butterfly landed on my jeans, so it was a cool angle on the kids' view!

  

Afterwards, the kids' enjoyed the Samburu Jungle Gym, got lots of energy out, and played Hide & Seek!




Suessical!

 This was a very blessed evening. The kids were SO excited to enjoy this musical theater performance.

 They enjoy Dr. Seuss, so it's cool to see his characters spring to live-action and real life! They both continue to sing the songs.

A memory that I will put in my pocket of remembrance is this. Days later Josh said, "A person is a person no matter how small.  [pause] Mom, We are all WHO's to God." It is so cool to see how a 4 year old relates our human size to God.  God's strength & sovereignty is truly immeasurable, uncontainable, indescribable.

Skyfari Ride

The Lord worked it out for Josh to have some one on one time with both his dad and mom.

Josh picked some zoo time and the sky fari ride :-)

The simplicity of childhood is fun! His favorite part is the "bump" as we start off and finding out what animal is pictured on our car.

The sweet thing about Josh is how he loves his family. He only wanted to go on an outing if all four of us could be there! So, when Aidon was out of school, we headed out for more family time :-)

A destination after the sky journey is the polar bears - and they were swimming...

sports!

going for the hoop!

receiving the pass...

focusing on the target!

Josh has his "own" sense of style: and likes the short AND long pants look sometimes!

loving the moment